This Time Around (Maybe #2)(10)

“‘Bout time you got here,” Tag says, throwing a tea towel at my head. I catch it with one hand, grinning at him.

“Isn’t Summer meant to be here?” I ask, frowning as I look around.

“She’s running late,” Tag says, running his hand over his shaved head.

“Did she call in?”

“Reid called in for her,” he says, his lips twitching in amusement. “The perks of screwing the boss, eh?” he jokes. A woman walks up to the bar and Tag leans in to hear her order. I chuckle when she flirtatiously pulls at his goatee. He hates that, I know he does, but I don’t know why. He gently untangles the woman’s fingers and starts to make her drink. I see Rachel walk up to me, a girl I once spent the weekend with. Summer always tells me I have a type, and going by what she says, I guess Rachel would be it. She has a curvy figure, long hair and bedroom eyes.

“Hey Ryan,” she coos, smiling up at me.

“Hey Rach, what can I get you?” I ask her, giving her a friendly smile in return.

“One margarita please,” she orders, leaning against the bar.

“Sure thing,” I tell her, grabbing the glass and commencing to make the cocktail.

“Come home with me tonight?” she asks bluntly, once I’ve finished making the drink. She bites her lip, giving me a look that says ‘I’ll make it worth your while.’

I place it down in front of her. “Sorry, can’t do, babe.” I say it gently, so not to hurt her feelings. I know how much rejection can hurt.

“Why not?” she pouts, pushing away her blonde hair. She doesn’t look upset, more like she’s confused.

“I’m a one woman man these days,” I tell her, grinning. It’s the truth. She may not be mine again… yet, but she will be. I don’t think a man has ever loved a woman more than I do her, and hopefully, she realises that. If not, hopefully, I can prove it to her.

Her face shows her surprise. “Really? Since when?”

“Since now,” I tell her, thanking her as she hands over the money for the drink. I put it in the cash register and pull out her change.

“Hope she knows how lucky she is,” she says, accepting the remainder of her money.

“Actually, I’m the lucky one,” I tell her, smiling. It’s the truth. If only she would let me in, let me see that side of her again. Her vulnerable side. It’s not like I expected Taiya to fall back into my arms yesterday, but I guess I was hoping for… something. When I left, hearing her cry ripped my heart out. Those tears let me know a few things. They show just how much I’ve hurt her, but they also show that she cares enough to maybe work things out. I need to fix the damage I’ve caused, to show her just how amazing she is. The woman deserves the world, and I plan to give it to her.

Rachel sighs. “I highly doubt that,” she says under her breath, before walking back to the table, drink in hand. I smile at her retreating back. If she only knew.

“Can I get a drink or you going to stare at the blonde all night?” comes Xander’s amused voice. I turn to my left, smiling at him in welcome. His long hair is tied back away from his face, showing off the ink on his neck. I think he’s had even more work done since the last time I’ve seen him.

“That new?” I ask him, pointing to the side of his neck.

“Yup,” he says, sitting down on one of the stools.

“Soon, we aren’t going to be able to see any of your skin,” I say as I pour him a beer.

“I don’t have any on my legs,” he says, lifting his shoulder in a shrug.

“Yet,” we both say at the same time. I’ve known Xander for a while now. He’s younger than me, but doesn’t look it. With his tattoos, muscular build and penetrating eyes, he looks like someone you wouldn’t want to mess with.

“How’s Jack?” I ask, referring to his dad. I slide him his beer across the table.

“You know Dad,” he says, lifting the glass and taking a long sip. “I thought Summer was meant to be here?”

“Yeah, me too. Reid’s giving her a late pass,” I say, chuckling at my own joke.

Xander tightens his lips. “Sucks not having her at home, so I come to see her and she’s not even here.”

“She’ll be here; don’t worry,” I say, crossing my arms and watching him. He loves his sister so much it’s insane. I guess because she was never always in his life, he doesn’t take her for granted now. Xander grew up with his dad, and Summer with her mum. He really is a good man, and I hope he doesn’t ever get involved in the things his old man used to.

“Hey,” Tag says, walking over to us. I realise he served everyone at the bar while I was here shooting the shit.

“We still on for tomorrow?” Xander asks Tag. Tag grins slowly, and nods. What the hell are these two up to?

“What’s happening tomorrow?” I ask, extremely curious. When they both start laughing at my question, I stand up straighter. Now, I really need to know.

“Sorry I’m late!” Summer calls out as she rushes behind the bar. I notice that her hair looks different, lighter or something. We all watch as she rushes to the office and comes back seconds later without her bag. She then walks over to her brother and kisses him on the cheek in greeting.

“What did I miss?” she asks, scanning each of our faces.